Staff Reports
President-elect Donald Trump’s overwhelming win in the 2024 election has sparked a noticeable cultural revolution across America, shifting the atmosphere from the suffocating grip of wokeness to a refreshing embrace of freedom. Despite this clear trend, the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders seem to have missed the rallying call.
After suffering a 34-19 defeat to the Miami Dolphins, rookie tight end Brock Bowers found himself in the spotlight not just for the game, but for a celebratory dance he performed that channeled the spirit of Trump. When asked about the dance during a postgame interview, Bowers indicated he had seen numerous athletes do it recently, particularly mentioning UFC fighter Jon Jones, who had also paid homage to Trump. However, before Bowers could continue to elucidate on his inspiration, the Raiders’ public relations team swooped in to abruptly cut off his media session, fearing the rookie might further ruffle some feathers.
Asked Brock Bowers about his Trump TD celly: “I’ve seen everyone do it. I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it. I like watching UFC so I saw it, and thought it was cool.”
Raiders PR ended his postgame availability after my question.
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) November 17, 2024
Bowers made it clear that his reference point came from a recent UFC fight, where the Trump-inspired move was showcased by Jones. But instead of the celebration being embraced, it was effectively muted by a PR team more concerned about potential backlash than the jubilant spirit of sportsmanship. The media team’s decision to intervene further highlights the lengths to which certain organizations will go to uphold a status quo that is increasingly out of step with the American mood post-election.
Moreover, the atmosphere of celebration was not isolated to Bowers alone. Across various NFL games that Sunday, players such as Calvin Ridley and Za’Darius Smith also embraced the Trump dance, embodying a grassroots movement within sports that celebrates national pride and individuality. This infectious enthusiasm stands in stark contrast to the remnants of wokeness that still linger in parts of the league.
The Raiders’ attempt to sanitize the postgame narrative reflects a growing trend across sports media: a tendency to overshadow—or outright censor—expressions of patriotism and support for Trump. Evidence of this censorship is apparent with CBS’s decision to exclude the joyful dance from broadcast highlights, raising suspicions about the overarching editorial choices made by networks. In an era where the media landscape is evolving rapidly, it appears that a more vocal and free-spirited fanbase is gaining momentum, encouraged by the likes of Trump and even influential figures like Elon Musk.
While some may view this cultural shift as tumultuous, it signifies a welcome reawakening for many Americans who are eager to break free from the chains of political correctness. The NFL and its PR teams might want to catch up with the wave of change sweeping across the country, or risk being beholden to an outdated playbook of restrictions that many fans are willingly leaving behind. As this cultural renaissance unfolds, one thing is clear: the American spirit is ready to dance again—especially when Trump is in the spotlight.
